Archives | Juan Luis Galiardo

‘The zest of life’ was the Coca-Cola slogan that once catapulted Roberto into an advertising career. But that was long ago. Nowadays, whenever this unemployed father contacts the company where he used to work his now-successful former colleagues feign absence. Nobody it seems has any time for the man that once invented Coca-Cola’s catchphrase. Desperate, Roberto is determined to at least pay a visit to the hotel where he once spent his honeymoon. But even this building has now disappeared and in its place excavations have unearthed a massive amphitheatre. A career-minded mayor and a thrilled museum director are excitedly looking forward to the grand opening of this gem of ancient history. But the members of the press present at the event all seem to be missing the point and Roberto is the only one who decides to take a closer look. In doing so, he takes a fall and finds himself caught unwittingly in a very precarious position. All of a sudden, it’s a matter of life and death and everybody takes an interest in him. Even Roberto is seduced into bargaining over the value of his life as a sensational event. [Synopsis courtesy of Berlin International Film Festival]